Charging valve for air-brake equipment



G.-E. MAIER. CHARGING VALVE FOR AIR BR AKE EQUIPMENT. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I9, [920.

1,406,4 Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

F31 y yyyy E LgU Games E. MAIN ATTORHEY.

a. E. MAIER. CHARGING VALVE FOR AIR BRAKE EQUIPMENT.

APPLICATION FILED -AUG.19, 1920.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2- mven-roa; GEORGE E. Mmza'.

G. E. MAIER.

CHARGING VALVE FOR AIR BRAKE EQUIPMENT. APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1920.

1,46,66n Patented Feb. 14, 1922 3 SHEETS-*SHEET 3.

INVENTOR GEORGE E. MAlER:

for Air-Brake Equipment,

lowing is a specifi as seen partly in side elevation and UNITED STATES GEORGE 'E. MAIER, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CHARGING VALVE FOR AIR-BRAKE EQUIPMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

Application filed August 19, 1920. Serial No. 404,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. MAIER, a citizen of the United States, Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Charging Valves of which the folcation.

- This invention relates to a charging valve which is especially designed for use in locomotive air brake equipment of the type commonly known as the Westinghouse No. 6 ET equipment and is adapted to be substituted for the ordinary feed valve employed in such equipment and is particularly suitable for use in connection with a charging reservoir as set forth in a copending application.

In the ordinary feed valve commonly employed in locomotive air brake equipment, a

control or regulating valve therein frequently becomes clogged by particles of dust,

water and oil carried to the regulating valve in the air passing therethroug h, thus interfering with proper operation of the regulating valve and preventing accurate functioning of the feed valve; the large volume of air permitted to pass through the regulating valve port direct from the main air reservoir of the locomotive when the regulating valve is opened to main reservoir pressure, carry.- ing with it'sufiicient foreign matter to eventually cause such accumulation of the foreign matter on the valve and its seat as to inhibit proper operation.

It is the object of this invention to provide a charging or feed valve having a control or regulating valve so constructed and arranged that it may be operated by such a small volume of air as to reduce to a minimum the pdssibility of foreign matter obstructing the valve and interfering with proper seating thereof.

Another object is to provide a charging valve with a double seating control or regu. lating valve so located as to minimize the amount of dirt or foreign matter reaching it and so arranged as to have a tendency to keep the valve and its seat clean.

A further object is to provide a charging valve in which the various parts are readily accessible to facilitate cleaning and repairs.

Other-objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in-which: I

Figure 1 1s a view of the charging valve partly residing at Los being here shown as and opening the port K,

in vertical section with portions broken away.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figures tional views illustrating the operation of the charging valve.

More specifically, 6 indicates the body of the charging valve which is formed with an inlet chamber A, an outlet chamber B, ports C and D connecting the chambers A and B, a piston chamber E to a slide valve chamber F communicatin with the inlet chamber A, passages G and H leading from the inlet and outlet chambers and terminating in spaced superposed relation above the piston chamber E, a passage 1 leading from the upper end of the piston chamber and extending intermediate the superposed portion of the chambers G and H and opposed ports J and K connecting the intermediate passage I with the passages G and H.

Mounted in the piston ton 7 fitted with a stem chamber E is a pis- 8 extending downl and 5 are diagrammatic secopening at its lower end wardly through the chamber F andconnect- 9 controlling the ports and close communication outlet chambers. A

ing with a slide valve C and D to open between the inlet and spring 1() acts to normally dispose the piston 7 in a lowermost position, as shown 1n Figure 5, in which position the slide valve 9 will close the ports C and D; the spring 10 located in the piston chamber E and bearing between the upper wall of the latter and the top of the piston. The spring acts to maintain the piston in this lowermost position when the air pressure on opposite sides of the piston is substantially equal.

Mounted in the intermediate passage I between the ports J and K 18 a double faced valve 11 carried on a stem 12 extending through the ports into the passages G an H. A spring 13- acts on mally maintain the double faced valve 11 in its uppermost position closing the port J in which position air under pressure may pass from the inlet chamber to the upper portion of a piston chamber to equalize pressuresabove and be low the piston 7 Arranged 1n the passage H above the double faced valve 11 is a diaphragm 14 against which the upper ends of the valve stem 12 abuts and bearing against the upper face of the diaphragm 14 is a stem the stem 12 to noron which a spring 16 bears in opposititon sage H the diaphragm 14 will be pressed to pressure on the diaphragm, and the tendownwardly under action of spring 16 so as sion of which spring is adapted to be adto shift valve 11 to open i'ports J and close justed by means of a screw cap 17 between port K, thus cutting ofl communication be which cap and a stem 15 spring 16 bears; tween the upper portions of the piston 'chain In the construction of the charging valve, her and the main reservoir and opening the various parts are preferably arranged as communication between the upper portion shown in Figures 1 to 3, that is, with the of the piston chamber to the passage H and piston chamber E and the piston therein ofl"- outlet chamber so as to vent excess pressure set in relation to the double faced regulatfrom above the piston and equalize pressure ing valve; ,the upper end of the piston chamin the upper portion of the piston chamber ber E being formed by a threaded cap 18 with that of the outlet chamber. The preswhich when removed will give access to the sure from beneath the piston 7 will then be chambers E and F and parts mounted therein excess of that above the piston and operin. The double acting valve 11 is mounted ated in opposition to spring 10 to raise the in a horizontally extended portion 19 of the piston and thereby move the slide valve 9 to valve casing in which the terminations of open the ports C and'D. Main reservoir the passagesG, H and I are formed; a cap pressure will then pass into the chamber A being screwed on the underside of the through the chamber B until such time as projecting portion opposite the ports J and the pressure in the chamber B will be raised K in which the lower end of the valve stem sufiiciently to restore the diaphragm 14 to 12 seat-sand which is adapted to be removed normal whereupon the spring 13 will act to by sleeves 21 and 22 forming seats to the then pass through the chamber, above the valve 11 and which are adapted to be repiston 7 and permit the spring 10 to restore moved and replaced. The upper portion of the piston to normal. the pro] ection 19 of the valve casing is In the foregoing it will be seen, that in opformed with an opening having a marginal eration o the double acting regulating valve flange 23 on which the diaphragm 14 seats 11 in exhausting, pressure from above the and in WhIC-h Opening a cap 2 1S Screwed piston 7 only such air will pass through the and adapted to be removed to give access to valve port J as to equalize pressure in the the diaphragm and sleeve 21. The cap 4 upper portion of the piston chamber and the is formed with a cylindrical extension 25 in passage H which under ordinar workin which the stem 15 and spring 16 is mountcondition will be extremely smal and that 00 ed; the cylinder 25 being threaded to receive in r hargin the upper portion of the pisthe screw l? ton chamber only a very small volume of air Inthe appl cation and operation of the 1 1- will be admitted to the piston chamber from 1 the Inlet Chamber A Of h Valve the main reservoir, thus reducing the possicasing is connected to a source of air under bilit f th valve being clogged to a mini- 05 pressure such as the ma n reservoir of the air m, Furth r ore, the regulating valve brake equlpment locomotive 9 fi being located out of the path of flow of theoutlet chamber 1s connected to a p pe llne air from the inlet and outlet chambers, the leading to any suitable po nt of discharge to o ibility of foreign matter being carried which air is to be automatically delivered to to the regulating valve is very remote. the charging valve from the main supply a While I have specified my invention as a reduced pressure, which reduced pressur applicable to air brake equipment of locomois predetermined and governed by the spring tives it may obviously be-employed wher- 16 acting on the diaphragm 14. When th ever devices of this character are serviceable,

with the diaphragm 14 retracted under presstruction and the arrangement shown, but sure in th e chamber B and passage H in may resort'to'such modifications and changes which position valve 11 will close port J as occasion may require coming within the and open port K so t at 11115111 reservoir spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

ton chamber E at its upper end through the 1. In a charging valve ,for air brake port K and its lower end through the chamequipment, a valve casing having an inlet b er F, thus equalizing pressure on opposite chamber, an outlet chamber and ports form- ,126 sides of the piston 7 so that the latter will ing communication between said chambers;

be acted on by the spring 10 and moved to a slide valve for opening and closing said its lowermost position to close ports C and ports, a piston chamber in said casing in D by the slide valve 9. On reduction of open communication at one end with the pressure in the outlet chamber B and pasinlet chamber, a piston in said chamber connected to said slide valve, a valve normallv opening communication between the other end of said piston chamber and the intake chamber and closing communication between the piston chamber and the outlet chamber, and means operable by reduction of pressure in the outlet chamber for operating said valveto open communication between the piston chamber and outlet chamber and to close communication between the piston chamber and, the inlet chamber whereby pressure above the piston will be reduced relative to pressure beneath the piston to effect movement of the latter to open the slide valve.

2. In a charging valve for air brake equipment, a valve casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and provided with ports forming communication between said chambers, a slide valve normally closing said ports, a passage leading from each of said chambers having portions extending parallel with each other, an intermediate passage extending betweensaid pair of passages, opposed ports leading from said intermediate passage to each of the pair of passages, a valve arranged between said ports, a spring acting on said valve to close the port leading to the outlet chamber, means operable by reduction in pressure in the outlet chamber for moving the valve in opposition to the spring to open said last named port and to close the other-port, and means whereby operation of the valve by reduction of pressure in the, outlet chamber will operate the slide valve to open communication between. theinlet and outlet chambers.

ing

3. In a charging valve for air brake equipment, a valve casing having a piston chamber therein, a pair of passageshaving opposed ports communicating with said piston chamber, a valve mounted between said ports to open either of the ports and close the other, a spring for holding the valve to close one of the ports and to open communication between one of the passages and the piston chamber, and a spring pressed diaphragm operable by reduction of pressure in the other passage for moving the valve in opposition* to said spring to open communication between said last named passage and the piston chamber and to close communication between the other passage and the piston chamber.

v4c. In a chargin valve, a valve casing havan inletcham er and an outlet chamber with ports connecting said chambers, a piston chamber in open communication at one f end with the intake chamber, a pair of passages leading from the inlet and outlet chambers extending to overlap each other, a passage leading from .the upper endof the piston chamber and opening through opposed ports to the pair of passages to, afford communication between the upper end of the pising the ports connecting ton chamber and the inlet and outlet chambers, a double faced valve arranged between the ports for closing either port and. opening the other and normally closingthe port leading to the outlet chamber and opening the ort leading to the inlet chamber, a piston in the piston chamber, a slide valve connected to said piston for opening or closing the ports connecting the inlet and outlet chambers, av spring acting on said piston when air pressure is substantially equal on opposite sides of the piston to dispose the piston in a position to close the slide valve, and means operable by reduction of pressure in the/outlet chamber for operating the double faced valve to close the port leading to the inlet chamber and open the port leading to the outlet chamber to vent the piston chamber above the piston whereby pressure below the piston will act to move it in opposition to its spring and thereby open the slide valve to effect communication between the inlet and outlet chambers.

5. In a charging valve, a valve casing having an inlet chamber .and an outlet chamber with ports connecting said chambers, a piston chamber in open communication at one end with the intake chamber, a pair of passages leading from the inlet and outlet chambers extending to overlap each other, a passage leading from the upper end of the piston chamber and opening through opposed ports to the pair of passages to afford communication between the upper end of the piston chamber and the inlet and outlet chambers, a double faced valve arranged between the ports for closing either port and opening the other and normally closing the port leading to the outlet chamber and orienmg the port leading tothe inlet cham er, a piston in the piston chamber, a slide valve connected to said-piston for opening or closthe inlet and outlet chambers, a spring acting on said piston when air pressure is substantially equal on opposite sidesof the piston to dispose the iston in a position to close the slide valve, a

iaphragm arranged in the passage communicating with the outlet chamber, a spring bearing on said diaphragm in opposition to pressure in the outlet chamber adapted to move the diaphragm on reduction of such pressure, and means whereby operation of the diaphragm by the spring will operate the double faced valve to close the port leading to the inlet chamber and open the port leading to the outlet chamber to vent the piston chamber above the piston whereby pressure below the piston will act to move it in opposition to its spring and thereby open .a slide valve to effect communication between the inlet and outlet chambers.

6T-In a charging valve, a valve casing having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, ports connecting said chambers, a piston chamber communicating at its lower end and uppermost passages, a diaphragm are With the inlet chamber, a series of three suranged in the uppermost passage bearing on perposed passages, the lowermost passage said stem, a spring arranged to bearupon communicating with the inlet chamber, the said diaphragm to move the latter down- 5 uppermost passage communicating with the wardly on reductionof air pressure in the outlet chamber and the intermediate-passage uppermost passage to move the double faced communicating with the upper portion of valve downwardly in opposition to its spring the piston chamber, and opposed ports conthereby closing the port between the internecting the intermediate passage with the mediate and lowermost passages andopen- 10 upper and lower passages; a spring pressed ing the port between the intermediate and piston in the piston chamber, a slide valve uppermost passages to vent the upper porconnected to said piston normally closing the tion of the piston chamber and to cause the ports connecting the inlet and outlet champiston to move upwardly in opposition to its bers, a vertically movable double faced valve spring under actionof the pressure from the 15 interposed between the ports connecting the inlet chamber to open the slide valve and superposed passages, .a vertical stem upon thereby deliver increasedpressureto the out which said valve is mounted, a spring actlet chamber and the uppermost passage, and ing on said stem bearing upwardly thereon means for adjusting the tension of the spring normally positioning the valve on the stem acting on the diaphragm. 20 to close the port between the intermediate GEORGE E. MAIER. 

